U2515H, AC511, Macbook Air, No Sound

[Celts88]

Appreciate if anyone can help regarding my U2515H not being able to play sound from attached AC511 Soundbar.

U2515H attached to a Macbook Air via display port cable. AC511 has power to it (attached to power USB on U2515H) so that isn't the problem, but when changing sound on Macbook from internal speaker to U2515H it says 'The selected device has no output control', and the output volume control is greyed out.

Dell are hopeless as they say there monitors do not support Macs, what a copout.

Thanks for any help with my problem.

 

[Dandu]

This is "normal" : the DisplayPort audio output is a "line-in" digital audio output, and OS X send the sound "as is" to the display, it's a bitstream content.

There is no simple solution to change that on OS X.

With Windows, you can control the volume on digital output, but there is a degradation on the sound.

 

[JTToft]

I have the U2515H as well, though not the soundbar (yet).

My understanding is that the soundbar cannot receive sound through DisplayPort, but has to have a USB connection to the computer.
Extremely stupid implementation if you ask me, but I suppose Dell assumes we'll use the USB hub in the monitor anyway, so it won't matter...

Connect your USB cable for the monitor's USB hub and see how it goes then.

 

[Giev]

I have the U2515H as well, though not the soundbar (yet).

My understanding is that the soundbar cannot receive sound through DisplayPort, but has to have a USB connection to the computer.
Extremely stupid implementation if you ask me, but I suppose Dell assumes we'll use the USB hub in the monitor anyway, so it won't matter...

Connect your USB cable for the monitor's USB hub and see how it goes then.

+1

The soundbar needs to be connected directly via USB (doesn't work via DP). Primary reason why I didn't even consider it when I was getting my U2515

 

[Celts88]

Appreciate the replies.

It seems that Dell are ok with Windows dealing with sound via the displayport, but couldn't care that Mac's don't.

Yes, if I had known this before I wouldn't have bought the soundbar, but too late I have it now.

Other option I was going to use the monitor/soundbar for is to connect an apple tv to the monitor via hdmi and hopefully it will play both video and sound.

 

[JTToft]

It seems that Dell are ok with Windows dealing with sound via the displayport, but couldn't care that Mac's don't.

Yes, if I had known this before I wouldn't have bought the soundbar, but too late I have it now.

Other option I was going to use the monitor/soundbar for is to connect an apple tv to the monitor via hdmi and hopefully it will play both video and sound.

- Your Mac can output sound through DP just fine, and the monitor can receive it just fine. The AC511 just cannot play it, since it only works via USB. You need external speakers plugged into the monitor's 3.5mm jack for sound via DP to work (or possibly via its DisplayPort output in some way, though I don't know if that would work).

- Can't you return it?

- It won't - at least not through the soundbar. Again, you need to use the 3.5mm jack.

 

[Celts88]

- Your Mac can output sound through DP just fine, and the monitor can receive it just fine. The AC511 just cannot play it, since it only works via USB. You need external speakers plugged into the monitor's 3.5mm jack for sound via DP to work (or possibly via its DisplayPort output in some way, though I don't know if that would work).

- Can't you return it?

- It won't - at least not through the soundbar. Again, you need to use the 3.5mm jack.

JTToft

I don't understand your comment that it won't play because only plugged in via the USB, but it works this way via Windows, but just not Mac's.

It's seems it's based on what operating system you use as Dell has confirmed that it will work with Windows just not OS X.

To late to return as I have been away and the 30 days has expired.

Just annoyed that Dell does not say anything on their website regarding being only Windows compliant, and it's not until you get the AC511 manual that this is mentioned (who would expect to read a manual before buying something).

 

[JTToft]

JTToft

I don't understand your comment that it won't play because only plugged in via the USB, but it works this way via Windows, but just not Mac's.

It's seems it's based on what operating system you use as Dell has confirmed that it will work with Windows just not OS X.

- I think we're perhaps just speaking of different things here. What I was trying to say was:

A Mac under OS X can output sound through DisplayPort to the monitor, and the monitor can, in turn, output this sound through its 3.5mm minijack.
The AC511 soundbar cannot play sound received through the DisplayPort input in the monitor.
In order for the AC511 soundbar to play sound it has to have a USB connection to its sound input (i.e. the Mac).

Are any of those statements not true based on your experiences?
Also, what differences are you observing between OS X and Windows?

 

[JTToft]

Appreciate if anyone can help regarding my U2515H not being able to play sound from attached AC511 Soundbar.

- Just an update.
I just received the soundbar in the mail today and have found a workaround you can use to play sound on the soundbar without having it connected to your computer:

Connect the soundbar to one of the monitor's USB ports, and then connect the monitor's minijack audio out to the soundbar's minijack audio in using a standard 3.5 mm minijack cable.
If you then set your MBA to output sound to "DELL U2515H" through DisplayPort, it will play on your soundbar.

Still, you're without a volume control (except for in the software you're using to play audio), but that's just how OS X works over DP.

Hope that was useful.

 

[Donka]

Doesn't the AC511 feature a rotary volume control on the end? Does that not work?

 

[JTToft]

Doesn't the AC511 feature a rotary volume control on the end? Does that not work?

- It does, and yes it works. But it functions in the same way as the Vol. up and down on the keyboard (the onscreen volume notifier comes up when you turn it), so it doesn't work with output over DisplayPort. In other words, the volume dial doesn't control the output volume of the sound bar itself, but the output volume the computer sends to the sound bar.

 

[Donka]

- It does, and yes it works. But it functions in the same way as the Vol. up and down on the keyboard (the onscreen volume notifier comes up when you turn it), so it doesn't work with output over DisplayPort. In other words, the volume dial doesn't control the output volume of the sound bar itself, but the output volume the computer sends to the sound bar.

Ah, thanks for explaining. I'm thinking about the 27" model but would like onboard speakers to avoid clutter so the 511 may be an option.

 

[JTToft]

Ah, thanks for explaining. I'm thinking about the 27" model but would like onboard speakers to avoid clutter so the 511 may be an option.

- Yeah, I saw you in the other thread.
If you get the AC511, get it from a place with a good return policy. I had to return mine because of excessive noise from the speaker (irrespective of volume level, and even with the volume turned all the way down) and from its 3.5 mm headphone jack. It really bothered me, but I don't know how you are about those things. Just be aware of it.
Its sound quality is quite decent, and it's really simple to use, though.

 

[Donka]

- Yeah, I saw you in the other thread.
If you get the AC511, get it from a place with a good return policy. I had to return mine because of excessive noise from the speaker (irrespective of volume level, and even with the volume turned all the way down) and from its 3.5 mm headphone jack. It really bothered me, but I don't know how you are about those things. Just be aware of it.
Its sound quality is quite decent, and it's really simple to use, though.

Thanks again.
I actually saw a logitech set of small desktop speakers that are powered by USB but accept a 3.5mm line in. They could be a good alternative since they still only be connected to the monitor but play the audio from which ever computer is connected to the monitor at the time eg my Mac Mini or rMBP 15. That's another reason why I'm looking at the Dell, since it has two DP inputs so I could have both computers connected at the same time.

 

[JTToft]

Thanks again.
I actually saw a logitech set of small desktop speakers that are powered by USB but accept a 3.5mm line in. They could be a good alternative since they still only be connected to the monitor but play the audio from which ever computer is connected to the monitor at the time eg my Mac Mini or rMBP 15. That's another reason why I'm looking at the Dell, since it has two DP inputs so I could have both computers connected at the same time.

- Do you mind linking to those speakers?
I'm hunting for a pair myself (see my thread a bit further down in this sub forum).

It's true that the Dell has two DP inputs, but one of them is Mini DisplayPort. The second full size DP is an output. Just FYI.

 

[Donka]

Sure, linked below. Regarding the mini displayport, I would need to pick up a second cable anyway so would just get a mini to mini.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00544XK...TF8&colid=3TYI2PGNS1NV9&coliid=I1BA7S2IY0CA6S

 

[VintageMac]

- Just an update.
I just received the soundbar in the mail today and have found a workaround you can use to play sound on the soundbar without having it connected to your computer:

Connect the soundbar to one of the monitor's USB ports, and then connect the monitor's minijack audio out to the soundbar's minijack audio in using a standard 3.5 mm minijack cable.
If you then set your MBA to output sound to "DELL U2515H" through DisplayPort, it will play on your soundbar.

Still, you're without a volume control (except for in the software you're using to play audio), but that's just how OS X works over DP.

Hope that was useful.

I'm trying to hook the AC511 up to a U2415 monitor. I'm assuming that should work the same as the U2515. Also to my MBP. I can not get any sound out of the soundbar. I'm using your 3.5mm minijack method. The little light is lit in front of the volume knob, but no sound. I was running an old set of Harman Kardon Soundsticks II off of this monitor, so I was getting sound from the monitor's 3.5mm minijack earlier. I have Preferences set to Dell U2415 and it is continuing to show "The salected device has no output controls" Any suggestions?

Edit— Also, I did try restarting. Didn't help. When I toggle the volume with the keyboard keys it only shows on the monitor the speaker icon with the circle with diagonal bar through it.

Another edit-- finally working according to JTToft's instructions. Glad to not need all the cables connected to my MBP, but a bit annoying not to have the volume control from the keyboard or rotary on the soundbar. Fyi, cables connected to MBP are 1) power cord, 2) mini DP to monitor and 3) USB to monitor. I then have my usb keyboard and usb mouse coming off the monitor.